When I heard about Maggie the Military Rat in a fellow Homeschool group, I just knew I had to order it for my kids. When the book arrived, it blew away my expectations and my kids, and I just fell in love with Maggie and her story! When I embarked on this journey to spotlight authors, Monica was one of the first authors that came to mind, and I was so tickled when she agreed to give us her time. This book is truly such a special treasure for fellow military kids, and I would recommend it to any military family!
What branch of the military are you affiliated with?
- U.S. Air Force
How long have you been a military spouse?
- My husband has been active duty Air Force for 18 years and we have been together that entire time, though married for the past 15 years.
What is your favorite part about being in a military family?
- The immediate connection I feel with other military families / belonging to a community of people that have a heart of service. Opportunities to live different places and experience different things.
What would you say is your biggest challenge being in a military family?
- Periods of separation from spouse (TDYs and deployments) and relocations (even though they can be exciting, they are not easy).
What is one piece of advice you would like to share with our current military families?
- This lifestyle isn’t easy, but choosing to focus on the good things about each situation can really help. For example, if your spouse is deployed, you can use that as an opportunity to focus on self-growth. If you are living in a new place, you can explore the area and find out what makes it unique. Mindset is everything.
How or why did you decide to become an author?
- I have always loved writing, and I had an idea for a children’s book to explain our unique lifestyle to my kids. Once the idea grabbed me, I couldn’t let it go until I wrote and published the book.
What book has been your favorite that you have written so far?
- Maggie the Military Rat is my first book!
Do you have more books planned for the future?
- Yes. I am currently working on the second book in the series, which will be called “Maggie on the Move” and explore the feelings and experiences that come with a military move.
What author inspires you?
- I read a lot, so I am inspired by many authors, but some that come to mind are: Ann Patchett, Catherine Newman, Maggie Smith, Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Kate DiCamillo, Elin Hilderbrand, Simone Gorrindo…I’d say 90-95% of the books I read are written by female authors! Simone Gorrindo is a fellow military spouse author, and her memoir “The Wives” was one of my favorite reads of 2024.
What’s a random fact about you we should know?
- I have a law degree from UC Berkeley School of Law, and even though I am no longer practicing law, I teach legal writing at Berkeley Law
Anything else you would like to share?
- I love to do author visits, and offer them virtually as well as in-person. Check out my website for more info on how to have me visit your school!
Book Titles:
We had so much fun getting to know Monica and spending time with Maggie. We can't wait for her next adventure!
Explore More with My Military Lifestyle and Our Book Nook!